Concurrent infusion of dissimilar resins

Abstract

A fiber preform is infused with two differing resin systems concurrently using stacked resin delivery assemblies located along one edge of the preform.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An Apparatus for infusing a fiber preform with at least two differing resins, comprising:
 a first resin delivery assembly capable of delivering a first resin to a first location on the fiber preform, including a first flow media; 
 a second resin delivery assembly capable of delivering a second resin to a second location on the fiber preform, including a second flow media overlapping the first flow media; and, wherein at least one of the first and second resin delivery assemblies includes a nonporous barrier film between the first and second flow media. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second flow media is sandwiched between nonporous barrier films. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the nonporous barrier films overlap an edge of the fiber preform. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a nonporous barrier separating the first flow media from the second flow media along an edge of the fiber preform. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the fiber preform has a top side, a bottom side and an edge between the top side and the bottom side, 
 the first flow media is located on the top side of the fiber preform, 
 the second flow media is located on the bottom side of the fiber preform, and 
 the nonporous barrier includes a ramp surface supporting the first flow media along the edge of the fiber preform. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first resin delivery assembly includes a first resin delivery tube extending along an edge of the fiber preform and coupled with the first flow media, 
 the second resin delivery assembly includes a second resin delivery tube extending along the edge of the fiber preform and coupled with the second flow media. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first and second resin delivery tubes are arranged side-by-side, and 
 the first and second flow media respectively infuse the fiber preform with the first and second resins through a thickness of the fiber preform. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first flow media is wrapped around the first resin delivery tube, 
 the second flow media is wrapped around the second resin delivery tube, and 
 the second resin delivery tube overlies the second flow media. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first resin delivery assembly includes an outer first tube surrounding the first resin delivery tube, the outer first tube having a longitudinal first slit therein and wherein the first flow media passes through the longitudinal first slit, 
 the second resin delivery assembly includes an outer second tube surrounding the second resin delivery tube, the outer second tube having a longitudinal second slit therein and wherein the second flow media passes through the longitudinal second slit. 
 
     
     
       10. An Apparatus for concurrently infusing a fiber preform with first and second differing resins, comprising:
 a first resin delivery tube located along an edge of the preform and capable of delivering a first resin to the fiber preform; 
 a second resin delivery tube located along the edge of the preform and capable of delivering a second resin to the fiber preform, wherein the second resin is different from the first resin; 
 first and second overlapping flow media respectively coupled between the first and second resin delivery tubes and the fiber preform; and, placing at least one nonporous barrier film between the first and second overlapping flow media. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second resin delivery tubes are disposed side-by-side and are laterally spaced from the edge of the preform. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 first nonporous barrier films between which a first flow media is sandwiched, and 
 second nonporous barrier films between which a second flow media is sandwiched. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first outer tube surrounding the first resin delivery tube and having a longitudinal first slit therein, wherein the first flow media is located between the first delivery tube and the first outer tube, and the first flow media extends through the longitudinal first slit in the first outer tube, and 
 a second outer tube surrounding the second resin delivery tube and having a longitudinal second slit therein, wherein the second flow media is located between the second resin delivery tube and the second outer tube and the second flow media extends through the longitudinal second slit in the second outer tube. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second resin delivery tubes includes a spiral opening allowing resin to flow therethrough. 
     
     
       15. A method of infusing a fiber preform with at least two differing resins, comprising:
 placing first and second resin delivery tubes side-by-side along one edge of a fiber preform; 
 coupling first and second resin flow media respectively between the first and second resin delivery tubes and the preform, including overlapping the first and second resin flow media; placing a barrier film between an area of overlap between the first and second resin flow media 
 delivering a first resin through a first resin delivery tube and a first resin flow media to the preform; and 
 delivering a second resin through a second resin delivery tube and the second resin flow media to the preform. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 delivering the first resin includes flowing the first resin horizontally over a top of the fiber preform, and 
 delivering the second resin includes flowing the second resin horizontally over a bottom of the fiber preform. 
 
     
     
       17. A method of infusing a fiber preform with at least two differing resins, comprising:
 overlapping first and second resin flow media along an edge of the fiber preform; 
 placing a barrier film between the overlapping first and second resin flow media to isolate the first resin from the second resin; and 
 flowing first and second differing resins to the fiber preform respectively through the first and second resin flow media. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein flowing the first and second differing resins includes:
 flowing the first resin horizontally over a top of the fiber preform, and 
 flowing the second resin horizontally over a bottom of the fiber preform. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 placing first and second resin delivery tubes side-by-side along the edge of the fiber preform; and 
 coupling the first and second resin delivery tubes respectively with the first and second resin flow media.